The Novu Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Novu in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Novu
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source notification infrastructure for apps and agents
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among email sending services, read from Novu’s own pages.
Made by Novu · checked Nov 13, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Novu’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Novu’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Nov 13, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 25 of the 50 other email sending services we grade
Novu is open-source notification infrastructure that sends in-app, email, push, SMS and chat messages from one API, with a prebuilt Inbox component for in-product notifications. Plans are priced by workflow runs per month rather than by recipient. Self-hosted deployment is listed as an Enterprise option.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Novu, taken from its own pages and our grades.
You build workflows in code and connect providers.
- 1
Best for open-source notifications on many channels
Novu sends in-app, email, push, SMS and chat messages from one API, and the free plan covers 10,000 workflow runs a month.
- 2
Paid plans start at $30 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $30 per month for 30,000 workflow runs.
- 3
There is a free plan
10,000 workflow runs a month, up to 5 workflows, 2 environments, 3 team members and 24-hour activity feed retention.
- 4
It runs on Web
Web.
- 5
Multi-channel workflows
Workflows deliver across email, in-app, SMS, chat and push, with delay, digest and throttle steps.
- 6
Inbox component
A prebuilt React Inbox component adds a notification feed with unread counts, preferences, filters and snoozing, and headless components are available.
- 7
Code-first workflows
The pricing page lists code-first workflows, topics and multi-tenancy support, with the feature set widening on higher plans.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 25 of 50
That is against the other email sending services we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Novu you would be making mail servers with a good name among inbox providers. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Novu at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $30 per month for 30,000 workflow runs
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Web
- Made by
- Novu
- Category
- Email Sending Services
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for open-source notifications on many channels
Novu sends in-app, email, push, SMS and chat messages from one API, and the free plan covers 10,000 workflow runs a month. Email still goes through a provider you connect, and the free plan stops at 5 workflows.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | C | Pro is $30 a month for 30,000 workflow runs, with extra runs at $1.20 per 1,000. That's above the category's dearer quarter at $20 but under the dearest tenth at $68. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Free plan: 10,000 workflow runs a month, no card needed. The caps are 5 workflows, 3 team members and 24 hours of activity history. |
| Features | C | Multi-channel workflows, an Inbox component, a code-first setup and an email editor. Email is sent through a provider you connect, so it isn't a sending service itself. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record. You build workflows in code and connect providers. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Web dashboard with an API, an Inbox component and connections to Slack, Teams, WhatsApp, Telegram, Discord and more. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Novu is for
- Fits if you're building an app and want one API for in-app, email and chat messages
- Makes sense if you want US or EU data residency without paying for it
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want a plain email sending service, because email goes through your own provider
- Tight if you stay on free: 5 workflows, 3 team members and 24-hour activity history
- Pricey if you grow, as Team starts at $250 a month and extra runs cost $1.20 per 1,000
- Watch out: self-hosting, SSO, SCIM and the HIPAA BAA are Enterprise only
Good to know
Good for
- Developers adding an in-app inbox plus email and push to a product
- Teams that want an open-source notification layer
- Prototypes and small apps: the free plan covers 10,000 runs a month
Worth knowing
- Novu orchestrates notifications; email is sent through an email provider you connect rather than a standalone sending service.
- The Free plan is capped at 5 workflows, 3 team members and 24-hour activity feed retention.
- Pro and Team prices are starting prices tied to 30,000 and 250,000 runs; overage is $1.20 per 1,000 runs.
- Self-hosting, SSO, SCIM and the HIPAA BAA are Enterprise features.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$30
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Novu has a free plan. Paid plans start at $30 per month for 30,000 workflow runs.
Free
$0
10,000 workflow runs a month across all channels, US and EU data residency, up to 5 workflows and 3 team members.
Pro
$30
per month and up, for 30,000 workflow runs
20 workflows, 7-day activity feed retention, advanced email editor, removal of Novu branding, higher rate limits. Extra runs are $1.20 per 1,000.
Team
$250
per month and up, for 250,000 workflow runs
Up to 10 environments, 90-day retention, unlimited team members, role-based access control and 600 requests per second for triggers. Extra runs are $1.20 per 1,000.
Enterprise
Custom
10 million or more workflow runs, HIPAA BAA, SAML/OIDC SSO, SCIM, additional data residency regions and self-hosted deployment options.
The free plan
10,000 workflow runs a month, up to 5 workflows, 2 environments, 3 team members and 24-hour activity feed retention.
Read from novu.co on Nov 13, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: Web
Open-source notification infrastructure for apps and agents. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, public API, workflow automation, transactional email.
Multi-channel workflows, an Inbox component, a code-first setup and an email editor.
- Multi-channel workflows
- Workflows deliver across email, in-app, SMS, chat and push, with delay, digest and throttle steps.
- Inbox component
- A prebuilt React Inbox component adds a notification feed with unread counts, preferences, filters and snoozing, and headless components are available.
- Code-first workflows
- The pricing page lists code-first workflows, topics and multi-tenancy support, with the feature set widening on higher plans.
- Email editor and layouts
- A block-based email editor and custom layouts come with Pro and above.
- Conversational channels
- Novu Connect is described as two-way communication with users and agents across WhatsApp, Slack and other channels.
- Data residency
- US and EU regions are on every plan. Singapore, UK, Australia, Japan, South Korea and custom regions are listed on Enterprise.
Where it runs
- Web
What it works with
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- WhatsApp Business
- Telegram
- Discord
- Google Chat
- Zoom
- Linear
Novu is made by Novu.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
25/50
Other email sending services it is graded above
Novu's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 25 of the 50 other email sending services we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (B, above 35 of 50) and worst on features (C, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $30 a month, against a middle price of $15 for the category: 31 of the 41 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.3 out of 4. 14 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 51 email sending services we grade, cut by the letter each got. Novu’s own letter is outlined.
- CValue for moneyAbove 8 of 50
- BFree plan and trialAbove 35 of 50
- CFeaturesAbove 0 of 50
- CEase of useAbove 7 of 50
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 17 of 50
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 44 email sending services. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Novu is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Novu you would be making mail servers with a good name among inbox providers. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
It costs $360 a year. Novu is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could not
- Mail servers with a good name among inbox providers.
- Connections to other products, each kept working as those products change.
What this rests on. Novu’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Knock, Courier, Twilio SendGrid, Resend and Postmark
The 5 tools Novu is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.2GPA
Knock
Free plan · from $250/mo
Cross-channel notification and messaging workflows for products.
- Novu is open source, according to its own site.
- 2.4GPA
Courier
Free plan
Notification and messaging API across email, SMS, push and chat.
- Novu is open source, according to its own site.
- Courier also covers chatbots.
- 2.6GPA
Twilio SendGrid
Free trial · from $19.95/mo
Twilio's email API and SMTP service, priced by monthly email volume.
- Novu has a free plan. Twilio SendGrid does not, though it has a free trial.
- Novu is open source, according to its own site.
- Novu also covers workflow automation.
- 2.6GPA
Resend
Free plan · from $20/mo
Developer email API with React Email templates and a free tier.
- Novu is open source, according to its own site.
- Novu also covers workflow automation.
- Resend also covers email campaigns.
- 2.2GPA
Postmark
Free plan · from $15/mo
Transactional email API and SMTP, with broadcasts on a separate stream.
- Novu is open source, according to its own site.
- Novu also covers workflow automation.
- Postmark also covers dMARC.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Novu free?
Novu has a free plan. 10,000 workflow runs a month, up to 5 workflows, 2 environments, 3 team members and 24-hour activity feed retention.
How much does Novu cost?
Novu lists 4 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Novu work on?
Novu is available on Web.
Does Novu have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Novu is listed for Web.
Does Novu have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Nov 13, 2026. Novu is listed for Web.
Is Novu open source?
Yes. Novu is open source, according to its own site.
Does Novu have an API?
Yes. Novu offers a public API, according to its own site.
What does Novu integrate with?
Novu's listing names Slack, Microsoft Teams, WhatsApp Business, Telegram, Discord, Google Chat, Zoom and Linear.
Who makes Novu?
Novu is made by a company of the same name.
What are the alternatives to Novu?
The closest alternatives to Novu in our directory are Knock, Courier, Twilio SendGrid, Resend and Postmark.
How does Novu compare with other email sending services?
Novu's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 25 of the 50 other email sending services we grade, and level with 8.
Is Novu good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Novu C for value for money. Its paid plans start at $30 a month, against a middle price of $15 for the category: 31 of the 41 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Novu?
To replace Novu you would be making mail servers with a good name among inbox providers.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Novu’s own pages on Nov 13, 2026, and the grades were given on Nov 13, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Novu's own pages on 13 November 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Novu. Prices change, so check novu.co before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
7,721
Tools graded, in 95 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
7,721
tools graded
95
categories
739
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Novu, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/novu
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Novu: The Insider's Guide", checked Nov 13, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/novu
Know someone choosing between email sending services?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/novu/guide
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Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Novu’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Novu is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Novu. Prices and plans change: check novu.co before you buy.